A cold front bringing rain and storms to South Australia this morning will lash parts of Victoria, New South Wales and Tasmania with damaging winds during the next 24 hours. A band of rain associated with the front brought 36mm in nine hours at Ceduna this morning, which is their heaviest fall in three years. Tarcoola's 25mm was their heaviest rain in 10 months. The front also produced a near-damaging wind gust of 83km/h at Mount Lofty this morning and gusts above 70km/h at Tarcoola and Port Pirie. Rain will continue in the state's south this morning, before contracting to northern areas during the afternoon. A severe weather warning for heavy rain and damaging winds remains in place for parts of the Pastoral districts. The cold front will also spread rain, a few storms and strong winds across Tasmania, Victoria and southern New South Wales as it moves east today. Falls of about 5-15mm are likely in most areas, although higher totals of 20-30mm are possible in northern Tasmania. Strengthening northerly winds ahead of the front may produce gusts above 90km/h about the Victorian ranges later today, while alpine areas could see gusts above 110km/h, including the Snowy Mountains. Tasmania will also be buffeted by blustery winds as the front sweeps over the state today, although more turbulent conditions are expected on Saturday morning as a low passes close to the state. Gusts of 100km/h are possible in all districts except King Island. Rain and winds will ease behind the front in western Victoria this afternoon and remaining parts of the southeast mainland tonight, although strong southwesterlies will continue through Bass Strait on Saturday. Conditions will ease in Tasmania on Saturday night once the low starts moving away to the east. Visit http://www.weatherzone.com.au/warnings.jsp for the latest warning and contact the SES on 132500 for emergency assistance.